Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 370’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum  plant named ‘SUN 370’, characterized by its compact and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUN 370’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofArgyranthemum plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SUN 370’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new compactArgyranthemum plants with attractive ray and disc floret colors and goodgarden performance and pest resistance.

The new Argyranthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2008 in Glandorf, Germany of two unnamed seedlingselections of Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented. The newArgyranthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf,Germany in August, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum plant by vegetative tipcuttings was first conducted in Glandorf, Germany in March, 2010.Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features ofthis new Argyranthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Argyranthemum plant. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUN 370’ as a new anddistinct Argyranthemum plant:

-   -   1. Compact and uniformly mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the parentselections primarily in plant size and uniformity.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum can be compared to plants ofArgyranthemum frutescens ‘Teddy White’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Glandorf, Germany, plants of the newArgyranthemum differed from plants of ‘Teddy White’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Argyranthemum had larger inflorescences        than plants of ‘Teddy White’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Argyranthemum and ‘Teddy        White’ differed in disc floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Argyranthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Argyranthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘SUN 370’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘SUN 370’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter and early spring in10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germanyunder cultural practices typical of commercial potted Argyranthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 14° C. to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 18° C.and light levels ranged from 25 klux to 90 klux. Plants were pinched onetime three to four weeks after planting and were 2.5 months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘SUN 370’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of            Argyranthemum frutescens, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 8 to 10 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 15 days at            temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 14 to 16            days at temperatures about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 to 20            days at temperatures about 14° C. to 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, fibrous;            white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous; compact and uniform            mounding plant habit; upright to broadly spreading form;            moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching growth habit with about            seven lateral branches developing per plant; dense and bushy            plant form; pinching enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 17.9 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 27 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10.7 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Strength: Strong;            young stems, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 144B and 145B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 7.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Pinnatisect; in outline, obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Pinnatifid; laciniate.        -   Sinuses.—Parallel to slightly convergent.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            slightly leathery; main vein on lower surface, very sparsely            pubescent.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            137B and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            143B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B;            venation, close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 143A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Single-type terminal and            axillary inflorescences borne above and beyond the foliar            plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a            receptacle; inflorescences face mostly upright to slightly            outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 175            inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Flowering season.—Plants flower from spring to late summer            in Germany; flowering continuous during this period.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last about two weeks            on the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance detected.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About            7 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Towards the base, close            to 137D; mid-section, close to 199D; towards the apex, close            to 157D.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.2 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.4 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.1 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 25 arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1.8 cm.            Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate to oblong;            slightly reflexed. Apex: Praemorse to obtuse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to NN155C.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 200 massed at center of receptacle. Length: About            5 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter, base: About            0.75 mm. Shape: Tubular. Apex: Five-pointed; acute. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: Base: Close to 145D.            Mid-section and apex: Close to 153D. Color, mature: Base:            Close to 145D. Mid-section: Close to 153D. Apex: Close to            13A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 24 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 7 mm. Width:            About 3 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; margins, papery. Color, upper surface:            Close to 144D; margins, close to 199D. Color, lower surface:            Close to 143A; margins, close to 199D.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.7 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Angle: Mostly erect to about 37.5° from vertical. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 1 mm. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 13A.            Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 17A.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil            length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:            Close to 13A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close            to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Argyranthemum.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Argyranthemum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Argyranthemum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Argyranthemum plant named ‘SUN 370’as illustrated and described.